Let your joy in Christ be evident in your life.

 

Sermon for Trinity 20, October 11, 2026

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  Amen.

Philippians 2:19-30  ¹⁹I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered when I receive news about you.  ²⁰To be sure, I have no one else like him, who will be genuinely concerned about your welfare.  ²¹For, the others all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.  ²²But you know Timothy’s proven character, that as a child for his father, he served with me in the gospel.  ²³So he is the one I hope to send just as soon as I see how things go with me.  ²⁴But I have confidence in the Lord that I myself will be coming soon too.  ²⁵I also considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as the one you sent to serve me in my need.  ²⁶I sent him because he was longing for all of you and was distressed, because you had heard that he was sick.  ²⁷As a matter of fact, he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.  ²⁸Now I am especially eager to send him, so that you may rejoice when you see him again, and I may be relieved.  ²⁹Therefore, receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard, ³⁰because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life in order to fill in what was lacking in your service to me. (EHV)

Let your joy in Christ be evident in your life.

Dear fellow redeemed,

            On old adage tells us that if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but if you teach the man to fish, you feed him for life.  That saying may well serve as an analogy of the Christian life.  As Christians, if we tell others how to live and pass laws to direct good behavior, we might well influence life for the short time we are in the world.  On the other hand, when we devote ourselves to teaching the full counsel of God including both law and Gospel then devote ourselves faithfully to serving others, we give them so much more, as we bring to them a life that never ends.  We are not just feeding them for a day but giving them the bread of eternal life which is Christ Jesus.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is sometimes called his “letter of joy,” for in it he repeatedly expresses his joy in Christ Jesus and his encouragement to rejoice in what Jesus has done for us.  In other words, he would say, Let your joy in Christ be evident in your life.

This Church year, our sermons have been taking us through a review of the Small Catechism.  Today’s sermon brings us into the midst of what Luther called our Table of Duties.  It lists the service Christians provide in the home, church, and community with our focus this morning on congregational life.  This portion of Paul’s letter demonstrates the concern Christians have for each other.  The people of Philippi had shown their concern for Paul by sending Epaphroditus to aid Paul in his ministry.  Paul was likewise concerned about the congregation he had started in Philippi.  The concern and care was obvious in both directions when they Let their joy in Christ be evident.

Now, Paul was eager to learn about the conditions in that congregation, and the congregation at Philippi was eager for news about the servant they had sent to Paul after learning how close that man had come to death while helping Paul who was at that time under house arrest in Rome.  So, what does this all mean for you and me?

This morning, we have an excellent example of parents caring for their children.  Not under compulsion, but because of their love and care for their newborn sons, we have two boys brought into the Lord’s family through the washing and Word of Baptism.  Therefore, with this baptism of two dearly loved children, God demonstrated His love, for we know that in Baptism, “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and the renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs in keeping with the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5-7)

Now, to all parents out here, I will say, being a parent gives you an awesome, essential, rewarding, and yes, sometimes thankless job.  As in our analogy, you might assume that your job is to raise your children to be law abiding citizens, and that would be a good thing in a world that is so often troubled by lawlessness.  Yet, that serves your children for just the present day. 

For those parents who truly love their children, teaching law leaves a gap.  No matter how well anyone ever obeys the law, death still comes calling in the end.  Paul wrote to the Roman congregation, “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)  Yes, a person might live to a ripe old age, but the end is the same.  However, Christ Jesus did not give up His life on the cross just so that we might look like good people.  He suffered and died so that we would be holy, righteous, and acceptable to His Father in heaven, and thus, that we would live with Him forever in heaven.  But how?

That is where the Christian community comes into play.  Starting right here at home, we have the duty to teach the world about Jesus, who explained, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father, except through me.” (John 14:6)  Furthermore, our duty is not burdensome but a true joy to be able to do those things that lead other sinners to the cross of Jesus where they will find peace with God, forgiveness of sin, and life everlasting, because the Gospel declares that “the undeserved gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

How could anyone consider this joyous task a burden?  Yet, as Paul pointed out, “the others all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”  Many around Paul thought first about themselves.  Indeed, that is our human nature, our old sinful Adam, coming to the forefront.  However, as the Holy Spirit works faith in us and motivates us to share the gift of salvation with those we love, that sharing no longer feels like work, but rather, a blessing that encourages both us and them.

In that new Christian Church all those centuries ago, there was a far different character than is evident in so much of the world, both then and now.  In the world, the self always tries to rule.  Yet, here in Paul’s letter, we see how the Christians demonstrated their care and concern for each other.  The Philippians sent help to Paul, and when that help suffered grievously, they expressed their love and concern for him.  Paul, likewise, showed his concern, both in regard to the conditions under which the Philippians had to endure much struggle in a pagan world, and in his care for his fellow minister.  He said, “I also considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as the one you sent to serve me in my need.  I sent him because he was longing for all of you and was distressed, because you had heard that he was sick.”

Do any of you ever wonder if anyone cares about you?  That feeling is exceedingly common among the youth of our day, but it isn’t unusual in older generations.  The truth is, the world and the devil who controls so many souls in it, not only doesn’t care about you, but Satan is actively seeking to destroy you.  Thus, we battle every day to Let your joy in Christ be evident in your life.

In contrast to the world and the devil’s malicious hoard, the Lord our God has sworn, “I will never forget you.  Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:15-16)  Therefore, being connected with the Lord Jesus by faith, your Christian friends are deeply concerned for your eternal welfare.  That is why they give offerings so that the Gospel continues to be preached.  It is why our prayer list grows longer seemingly every week.  It is also why sometimes, we must go to a fellow believer and point out sin and neglect of faith, not because we are trying to lord it over anyone, but because our love for others in Christ Jesus compels us. 

It is a great joy to us and to God above when we get to see the burden of guilt lifted from a fellow believer, because Jesus said, “I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)  Therefore, we say, come in, come in and receive the forgiveness of our Lord and the everlasting life He gives through faith.

Why do we want to show our concern for our friends and neighbors?  For the Christian, it isn’t because the law commands it.  Rather, we feel the grace of God at work within us.  We rejoice at the opportunity to serve the Lord who brought us forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)  We gladly offer prayers to our God on behalf of others, because He promises through His apostle, James, “The prayer of a righteous person is able to do much because it is effective.” (James 5:16)  We rejoice that Jesus boldly stated, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

God calls us to pray, praise, and give thanks, because He loves rewarding faithful people.  He tells us to go out into the highways and byways of life in order to invite more and more lost souls into the glorious wedding banquet of heaven, and as we saw pictured in the Gospel lesson this morning, our Savior provides the perfect wedding clothes by covering us with His righteousness given to those who believe in Him.  Furthermore, when teaching against worry, Jesus declared, “Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)

Dear friends, most of us would have to admit that there are many times we feel the burden of our guilt.  Even worse, we know there is much more sin on our resume than we could ever know.  Indeed, the psalmist pleaded with the Lord, “Who can recognize his own errors?  Declare me innocent of hidden sins.” (Psalm 19:12)  And again we read, “If you, Lord, kept a record of guilt, O Lord, who could stand?  But with you there is pardon, so you are feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4)  I tell you, come and hear the glory of God for He gave His Son, Jesus, into life and death to rescue us from everlasting torment and darkness.  Jesus lived to give you His perfect holiness, He died so that your sins would be washed away and forgotten.  He has risen from the dead and now lives in glory in heaven with all things in heaven and earth under His authority, so that you may Let your joy in Christ be evident in your life.  Amen.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.  Amen.

Clothe yourselves in the peace Christ won for you.

 

Sermon for Trinity 19, October 4, 2026

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.  Amen.

Colossians 3:12-21  ¹²Therefore, as God’s elect, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  ¹³Bear with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone else.  Forgive, just as Christ forgave you.  ¹⁴And, in addition to all these things, put on love, which ties things together in perfect unity.  ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, to which you were also called, in one body.  And be thankful.  ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.  ¹⁷And everything you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  ¹⁸Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives and do not treat them harshly.  ²⁰Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.  ²¹Fathers, do not embitter your children, so that they do not become discouraged. (EHV)

Clothe yourselves in the peace Christ won for you.

Dear beloved children of the Lord,

            It is quite common in families for parents to expect their children to hold themselves to certain standards when out in public.  This is perhaps especially true among the wealthy, the politically elite, and royalty.  For example, the British Royal Family has very strict protocols that every member of the family is expected to uphold at all times.

Of course, in those cases, the family expectations are primarily focused on preventing embarrassment to the family.  In contrast, our Lord is not concerned with embarrassment.  Rather, out of love for us and for all people God gives instruction for living to those He has made His own children, so that we live in the gentleness and humble nature of His Son, Who, “Though he was by nature God, … humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)  Thus, it is to express His tender love for us that the Spirit says, Clothe yourselves in the peace Christ won for you.

The first thing we must realize is that these instructions are for Christians, for those whom God has already made His own.  Notice with joy that Paul wrote this to “God’s elect, holy and loved.”  Out of all the teaming hordes of humanity afflicted with the sinful nature inherited from Adam, and deserving nothing but His rejection, God chose us to be His own “dearly loved” children.  We are so dearly loved that God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, into suffering and death on our behalf.  By Christ’s righteous living and perfect obedience to His Father in heaven, holiness was established for those who would believe in Jesus. 

Then, through the faith worked in us by His Holy Spirit in Word and Sacrament, God has counted us forgiven and cleansed of all sin.  By the powerful washing of Baptism, God washed away the stench of all our guilt then dressed us in the perfect righteousness that Jesus lived for us.  Furthermore, Jesus promised, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23)  So, to faithful Christians, with Jesus and the Father dwelling in us, the Spirit says, Clothe yourselves in the peace Christ won for you.

Now, we know that no one is able to make himself a Christian by following these commands, for as long as we walk the troubled soil of earth, we remain in the condition of sin, so our works can never earn God’s mercy.  Consequently, those who try to use instructions like this to gain, by their own works, a place in God’s heaven earn only condemnation for their faults. 

Instead of telling the troubled soul how to please God and be saved, Paul’s instructions, here, tell us how to live as part of Jesus’ sanctified bride, His holy Church.  Consequently with the Holy Spirit working in us, we do not want to dress in the shameful rags of our own efforts, but we put on the pure white clothes that Christ has woven for us in Himself.  It is Jesus put on us that leads to pleasing God.  We thereby become His representatives here on earth.  We do this by confessing our unworthiness and guilt, and trusting in Jesus for forgiveness and salvation, and in that state of grace striving to live as He would live. 

Paul wrote, “Clothe yourselves with heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”  What greater heartfelt compassion could be shown than what Jesus showed as He entered our world to live with the rabble of humanity?  Not willing to sentence the whole human race to hell, Jesus entered our world—this world so troubled by our sinful ways—just so that He could eliminate our rift with God and heal our souls to live with Him forever.

Jesus demonstrated kindness to those who needed His help, who indeed had nothing to offer Him but more sin, when He healed the sick, the lame, and the blind while He forgave the sins of all who came to Him for help and healing.  Jesus lived humility in not demanding our obeisance before saving us but taking on complete servitude to rescue the unworthy from eternal death.  The very Son of God, and true King of heaven and earth, was willing to live as one of us in order to rescue the wretched refuse of humanity from sin, death, and the devil’s control. 

Jesus’ gentleness was evident to all in that rather than demand obedience to more and more laws, He declared, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)

In consideration of all that Jesus has done for us, Paul writes, “Bear with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone else.  Forgive, just as Christ forgave you.  And, in addition to all these things, put on love, which ties things together in perfect unity.”  Remember that through the adoption of Baptism, we each have God dwelling with us and empowering us to live as Jesus lived for us with unconditional love devoted to bringing forgiveness to others.  Jesus said, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)

If we pause for a moment and remember all the times we have been unwilling to forgive someone else, or even those times when perhaps we punished one of our own children for their misdeeds but then forgot to tell them that they are truly forgiven for Jesus’ sake, it is easy to be stricken in the heart for our unloving, unforgiving attitudes.  It is for just such times that the Spirit caused Paul to write, “Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, to which you were also called, in one body.  And be thankful.”  Be thankful that Jesus has already forgiven you.  Be thankful that He has won complete and everlasting peace between you and God.  No, we don’t deserve that mercy and kindness.  No one does for we all fall short of the glory of God, but that is the richness of God’s love for us and for all—that Jesus came to save sinners.  Be thankful, for He came into this world to make us right with His Father in heaven so that we may Clothe ourselves in the peace Christ won for you.

Sometimes, we find it hard to forgive, and even harder to forget; we want the offending party to make up to us for whatever the fault, but is that how Jesus forgave us?  Did He not rather suffer and die for all the sinners of the world regardless of whether we believed?  Therefore, put on love.  Put on that determination to do for the other person what he, like us, doesn’t deserve and cannot earn. 

At the same time, we dare not pretend that any sin is something good.  We are often surrounded by unbelievers who demand that Christians condone what God calls sin.  To condone sin is not love but pure hatred driven by the evil one.  Instead, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.”  God’s Word does not change, nor should we want it to, for it is life and hope and salvation to the believer.  So, we are to teach it faithfully, and use it wisely in all we do, and our response to God’s Word should always be praise and thanksgiving.  We, of course, do this in our weekly church services, yet it is for the good of our neighbor that the Lord encourages this to be evident in every part of daily living. 

When feelings of worthlessness come upon us, we can look to the love God demonstrated for us on the cross, where because He loves us, Jesus sacrificed Himself so that we would be rich in righteousness and dearly loved by His Father in heaven.  If we ever feel gloomy or worried, we can take heart in the fact that God has redeemed us from evil and condemnation—that He has opened the gates of heaven for all who believe in His Son.  Living with gratitude to God can be contagious.  It is hard to stay focused on gloom when your associates are singing praise to God even in the hard times.

It is perhaps in our own families that we have the greatest difficulty staying true to God’s directives.  Husbands and wives struggle to balance power, needs, and desires.  It is easy to let the sinful nature control our reactions to the little hurts of life.  Children may sometimes rebel against parents’ authority even while needing that guidance to have happy, contented lives.  Therefore, we again are reminded to focus on what Jesus has done for us; “And everything you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

In the day-to-day struggle of life in this sin-broken world, there is much that causes hurt and consternation even among people who love each other.  It is therefore wise to keep our eyes looking always toward the One Savior who never stops loving us.  So, the Spirit reminds us that our salvation and forgiveness comes only through Christ, and our sanctified service is the same.  Through faith, Christ puts Himself on us, around us, and in us.  Through the gift of Baptism and the life-giving food of His Holy Supper, Jesus works in us, making the Spirit’s witness come true when He caused Paul to write: “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) 

Dear friends, may God’s workmanship, and the merciful love of Christ Jesus shine on and around you continually, as you Clothe yourselves in the peace Christ won for you.  Amen.

May the LORD our God be with us, just as he was with our fathers.  May he never leave us or abandon us.  May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways.  Amen.

This Angel of the Lord is God’s Son.

 

Sermon for St. Michael and all holy angels Sunday, September 27, 2026

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Hebrews 1:1-14  In the past, God spoke to our forefathers by the prophets at many times and in many ways.  ²In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  ³The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of the divine nature.  He sustains all things by his powerful word.  After he had provided purification for sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high.  ⁴The Son became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.  ⁵For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are my Son.  Today I have begotten you?”  And again: “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.”  ⁶And again, when he brought his firstborn into the world, he said: “Let all God’s angels worship him.”  ⁷About the angels he says: “He makes his messengers winds and his ministers flaming fire.”  ⁸But about the Son he says: “God, your throne is forever and ever, and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.  ⁹You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.  Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your companions.”  ¹⁰And he says: “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands.  ¹¹They will perish, but you remain.  They will all become old like a garment.  ¹²You will roll them up like a robe, and they will be changed like a garment.  But you are the same, and your years will never end.”  ¹³To which of the angels has he ever said: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool under your feet?”  ¹⁴Are not all angels ministering spirits sent out to serve for the benefit of those who are going to inherit salvation? (EHV)

This Angel of the Lord is God’s Son.

Dear friends in Christ,

            It isn’t hard to imagine that God chose Israel as His people, not because of any merit in them, but because they were so representative of all mankind.  Though there were many who became believers upon hearing the Word of God, the people as a whole often struggled with weak faith and easily lapsed into idolatry and rebelliousness.  Then, the people of Jewish descent who were among the first believers in Jesus were often subject to serious persecution by their own people. 

The friends, relatives, and neighbors who had not believed in Jesus thought these early Christians were making a grave mistake by following Christ.  This became an even more serious stumbling block to their faith in Jesus when the Roman emperor banned Christianity as a religion while still allowing the Jewish faith to continue being practiced.  To hold on to their new faith in Jesus required great perseverance in the face of strong opposition.  Again, it isn’t hard to imagine that we could become subject to the same types of persecution.  Our world, also, is infiltrated with vast hosts of people who reject Jesus as God, and who oppose Him, and us, at every opportunity.

It is to these persecuted Christians, who had grown up in the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that the writer brings the encouragement of this letter.  The writer is teaching and showing his fellow former Jews that Jesus truly is the reason for the Old Testament writings and the fulfillment of the same.  This remains just as important for you and me.  We need to see Jesus for who He truly is.

Now, the Jews, with the exception of the Sadducees, believed in the angels and that God sends them to help us and deliver messages.  They knew the Scriptures and the accounts of angels bringing messages to the prophets.  They remembered the visits of the Angel of the Lord.  However, just as in our world, many people were being tormented with the lie that Jesus was merely another angel, prophet, or other messenger from God.  It is not an unusual taunt Satan uses: tell people Jesus is just a man, or just an angel, or just a prophet or teacher, and why should anyone believe in Jesus as their Savior?  The message given here is that This Angel of the Lord is God’s Son.

The writer acknowledges that God had communicated with their forefathers in many ways.  He does not deny that God sends His angels to protect and defend us.  Indeed, we too know the Scriptures assuring promise, “He will give a command to his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11)  Yet, even as holy and dedicated as the holy angels are to serving God by helping us, there is a tremendous difference between the created angels and Jesus.

Therefore, the writer reminds those under persecution, “In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.”  He was reminding these persecuted brothers that what they had learned from the apostles is indeed a message of love from God, and hearing these words, we remember that this is not new news.  Moses had long earlier reported God’s Word, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26) Just as St. John also reported, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him everything was made, and without him not one thing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1-3)  It is through Christ Jesus that God made the universe and everything it contains and still sustains it.

At the same time, it wasn’t enough to satisfy God’s love that His Son was involved in creating and sustaining this world.  Remember, God is love.  He is forever faithfully kind to His creation demonstrating His love for all He created.  Therefore, we read, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of the divine nature.  He sustains all things by his powerful word.”  God works through His spoken Word.  Through His Word, He created everything and still sustains it, and it is through His Word that God gives the faith in Jesus that saves us.  Still, there is more to the story.

Here, the writer takes the reader to what is important for our eternal lives and destination.  Walking away from Jesus doesn’t protect a person from anything.  In fact, rejecting Jesus in the hope of saving one’s skin from persecution leads to eternal death.  Jesus explained to His disciples, “In fact whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  After all, what will it benefit a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?  Or what can a person give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:25-26)  What have we to offer God except our sin?  The answer is nothing of value.  Before God, all mankind must fall in abject despair of anything good in themselves, “because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)  Yet, God doesn’t leave us in that tragic position, as the writer again declares, “After he had provided purification for sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

With His holy life and death on the cross, Jesus became both our Great High Priest and the sacrificial Lamb when He offered Himself to God on the cross in our place.  With His resurrection from the grave Jesus proved that His work had accomplished the forgiveness and peace that God had promised.  We read again, “After he had provided purification for sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”  The first readers of this letter had known those promises from youth.  They had heard the reports of the evangelists.  They had seen and believed what Jesus had done.  The message for them and us is never to let go of the sure hope we have in Jesus.

Apparently, some false teachers were pushing the idea that angels would help them even if they abandoned Jesus, but apart from Christ there is no salvation.  Jesus had stated it plainly, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father, except through me.” (John 14:6)  Furthermore, we have the testimony of the Father from heaven.  St. Peter testifies, “He received honor and glory from God the Father, when the voice came to him from within the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’  We heard this voice, which came out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.” (2 Peter 1:17-18) 

Here, the writer again argues for faith in Jesus, saying, “The Son became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.  For to which of the angels did God ever say: ‘You are my Son.  Today I have begotten you?’  And again: ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.’  And again, when he brought his firstborn into the world, he said: ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’”  Thus, to anyone who would call Jesus merely a teacher or messenger, we boldly declare, This Angel of the Lord is God’s Son.

None of this is to say that the holy angels are not important or powerful.  About the angels he says: “He makes his messengers winds and his ministers flaming fire.”  I can confidently assure all of you that we have been blessed far more by the angels than any of us realize.  How often have we been spared from disaster because God sent an angel to block harm from touching us?  Most of the time, we don’t see or have any comprehension of their intervention on our behalf.  But about the Son he says: “God, your throne is forever and ever, and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.  Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your companions.” 

God Himself calls Jesus God.  Much of our world would prefer to deny the Trinity.  However, to deny any one person of the Trinity is to deny God completely.  But, by sending His Son into this world of sorrow and pain, God has removed condemnation from our future.  Through the faith He works in us by the power of His Holy Spirit in the Word and Baptism, God has rescued us from eternal separation from Him and at the same time brought us into His eternal kingdom of peace in heaven.

Finally, the writer reminds his people that in the end, all the material things of this earth will end.  All these created things will perish.  However, God alone is forever and ever unchanged.  Our writer speaks to the Lord, “They will perish, but you remain.  They will all become old like a garment.  You will roll them up like a robe, and they will be changed like a garment.  But you are the same, and your years will never end.”  Jesus Christ, God our Savior, will return to judge the world.  This world will pass away and be replaced by the new creation God has planned.  He will send His angels on that last day to sort out the believers from the unbelievers, and those who are connected with Jesus by faith will return with Him into eternal glory.

Dear friends, we celebrate the angels today because God uses them to help us, but we especially celebrate He who is both the Angel of the Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  In Him we move and have our being; in Him we have forgiveness of all sin and life everlasting.  This Angel of the Lord is God’s Son.  Amen.

Now, to our Lord and Savior and God, we offer up this prayer, God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.  Amen.

Pray, praise, confess, and pray!

 

Sermon for Trinity 16, September 20, 2026

Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.  Amen.

James 5:13-20  ¹³Is anyone among you suffering?  He should pray.  Is anyone cheerful?  He should sing songs of praise.  ¹⁴Is anyone among you sick?  He should call the elders of the church, and they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  ¹⁵And the prayer offered in faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up.  If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  ¹⁶So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, in order that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is able to do much because it is effective.  ¹⁷Elijah was a man just like us.  He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.  ¹⁸Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the land produced its harvest.  ¹⁹My brothers, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth and someone turns him back, ²⁰let it be known that the one who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (EHV)

Pray, praise, confess, and pray!

Dear fellow redeemed,

            After Jesus finished praying one day, “one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray,’” (Luke 11:1) and Jesus taught them the prayer we know as the Lord’s Prayer.  When you study Jesus’ prayer, you soon realize that almost all of it is asking for the Lord to help our spiritual lives.  Only one petition asks for earthly things.  You might wonder why Jesus was so focused on our lives of faith, but the fact of the matter is Jesus didn’t come into this world to make earth a pleasant home.  Instead, Jesus’ whole purpose was to make it possible for us to dwell with Him forever in heaven.

Therefore, as we consider the text before us this morning, we see that following in His Lord’s footsteps, James is again encouraging us primarily toward the things that will bring people forgiveness and eternal life, while also, like Jesus, attending to our lives here on earth.  Therefore, we will consider Jame’s words that encourage us to Pray, praise, confess, and pray!

The letter of James is essentially the Holy Spirit instructing believers how to live in this troubled world.  It is not particularly strong in Gospel.  Rather, it is telling us how we as believing Christians should live in sanctification as we wait for the return of our Lord on Judgment Day.  Again, the focus is not on gaining a place in the kingdom of heaven, but how we might reflect our membership in that realm.  Furthermore, through James, the Spirit would have us be doing those things that encourage others to follow along on the path to heaven which is Jesus.

Three times, then, James simply says, “Pray.”  “Is anyone among you suffering?  He should pray.”  Now, that command comes not as something to be obeyed in order to force a better outcome.  Instead, he commands the suffering to pray because the Savior we follow and believe in has the authority and power to help us.  Furthermore, Jesus Himself invited us to come to Him in any need.

James wrote, “Is anyone among you sick?  He should call the elders of the church, and they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”  As you all are well aware, we have a list of people to pray for in every bulletin.  Prayer requests come out from our synod and from friends both near and far away.  Again, we don’t pray to earn brownie points with God.  We pray because God encourages us to come to Him in every need.  He wants us to trust Him to provide everything we need for body and life, including for our eternal lives.  This is why Jesus came into the world and why He healed so many who came to Him in need of healing while He lived among us.

Now, we must call attention to the instruction to anoint with oil.  Some want to make this a talisman of sorts as if it is our anointing that moves God to heal.  However, we must understand that applying olive oil (the literal instruction here) is merely telling us to use the appropriate medical care of the time.  When James wrote this, olive oil was commonly used for many medicinal purposes.  Consequently, we take this to mean that the Lord desires us to make use of the modern medical care He has provided to us through the various channels.  The medicines, skills, techniques, and devices of modern medicine are just as much God’s gifts to us as any other skill or blessing.  Yet, that doesn’t preclude prayer.  Numerous studies are showing that medical care in general is much more successful when accompanied by prayer.

At the same time, there is a greater purpose for our prayers on behalf of the afflicted.  James wrote, “And the prayer offered in faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up.  If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”  Prayers offered by faithful believers go a long way toward helping the sick person’s faith.  As we put our trust in Jesus through prayer, our faith is also being tempered into stronger faith.  Which, of course, leads to salvation, eternal life, and resurrection from the dead come Judgment Day. 

Just as the young man of Nain in our Gospel lesson rose up when Jesus spoke the simple command, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” so too will we, who have been forgiven of all sin, joyfully rise when the trumpets sound as Jesus returns in glory to judge the living and the dead.  Likewise, as Christian believers, we pray that the sick individual will be strengthened in faith through our sharing of the Gospel so that whether he gets better or dies, eternal life will be granted through faith in Jesus.

“So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, in order that you may be healed.”  The first part, we readily confess but some may wrongly assume that the healing is always in this life and then be disappointed if that does not turn out to be the case.  In our weekly church services, we confess our sins and pray for each other.  We do so not to gain a reward here on earth but in the sure hope of everlasting life we are promised through faith in Jesus.  Just as St. John explained in his first letter, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.” (1 John 1:9-10)

We then come to perhaps the most compelling statement, and maybe most misunderstood: “The prayer of a righteous person is able to do much because it is effective.”  There are some who have abused this passage to accuse a believer of not praying properly or enough if God’s answer to our prayer is “No.”  Others wrongly guess that our righteousness accomplishes the good.  However, the Lord does not operate as a vending machine for our every wish or desire.  Rather, our prayers are effective, because our God is powerful and loving.  Therefore, whenever we pray to the Lord, and He encourages us to come to Him in every need, we can be confident that God’s answer is exactly best for the situation at hand, whether we can see the full outcome or not. 

Whenever it may seem like we haven’t been given what we want, it is certain that God in His infinite wisdom knows there is a better way.  Perhaps our suffering is being used to strengthen faith in us or someone else.  Maybe answering prayers exactly according to our wishes would lead to unexpected harm for us or others.  Finally, we need to remember and trust God when He says, “Certainly my plans are not your plans, and your ways are not my ways,” declares the Lord.  Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my plans are higher than your plans.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)  At the same time, we are assured by the Holy Spirit, “If God is for us, who can be against us?  Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also graciously give us all things along with him?” (Romans 8:31-32)

There is one short part I have skipped thus far.  As he told us to pray, James also inserted the advisement, “Is anyone cheerful?  He should sing songs of praise.”  It is a reminder to the sanctified believer to give thanks and praise to God for the multitude ways He blesses us.  It is so very common for the old man in us to focus more on the problems of this life.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease, so to speak.  Our daily lives and social media give multiple proofs that people in general are complainers who focus more on minor irritations than the great blessings God pours out on us daily. 

Yet, no matter our status in life, whether healthy or sick, rich or poor, powerful or insignificant in daily life, the greatest joy ever given is Jesus Christ crucified for sinners.  Through Jesus, all of our sins, shortcomings, faults, and shame have been removed from us and the guilt paid for with His blood.  And through Jesus, the righteousness we need to enter heaven has been put over us through the washing and Word of Baptism, covering all our imperfections so that we are welcome in God’s presence forever.  May we never forget God’s grace to us in Jesus.

The letter of James concludes rather abruptly.  There is no typical closing remark or blessing so common among letters of his time.  At the same time, in this closing part, we see how important it is to God that the sinner come to faith in Jesus.  The apostle wrote, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth and someone turns him back, let it be known that the one who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”  This is the motivation for all of us to demonstrate our love of God and our neighbors through how we serve our fellow sinners. 

The writer points us back to God’s Word, the ultimate source of all truth and pleads for us to do everything in our power to stay connected to it and to turn those who have strayed back to the truth.  This is why we gather around the Word of God.  This is why we send missionaries out into the world.  It is why we practice Church discipline.  This is why we want to draw others into the Church, not just to count bigger numbers but rather, so that more and more people may come to know Jesus and the righteousness and forgiveness He has won for all.  St. John wrote:

“Because God is love, this is how God’s love for us was revealed: God has sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we may live through him.  This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, if God loved us so much, we also should love one another.” (1 John 4:8-11) 

Thus, the apostle James brings us the Holy Spirit’s encouragement that we Pray, praise, confess, and pray!  Amen.

Now to him, who is able, according to the power that is at work within us, to do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!  Amen.

Our faithful Lord answers your prayers.

 

Sermon for Trinity 15, September 13, 2026

Our faithful Lord answers your prayers.

Dear children of the Living God,

St. John, in his greeting to the members of the seven churches in the province of Asia: (Revelation 1:4) wrote, “To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His own blood and made us a kingdom and priests to God His Father—to Him be the glory and the power forever.  Amen.” (Revelation 1:6)  Today, this serves as both my greeting to you and as a reminder that Jesus has made us people of God’s kingdom and priests with the privilege of intercession with God.  Our sermon text celebrates that marvelous privilege that allows us to go to God, the Creator of heaven and earth, with any need, want, or care with full assurance that Our faithful Lord answers your prayers.

We read King David’s psalm in the name of our dear Savior, who gives the words their power:

Psalm 145:1-2,13b-21  A song of praise.  By David.  ¹I will exalt you, my God, the King, and I will bless your name forever and ever.  ²Every day I will bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. … The Lord is faithful to all his words and merciful toward all he has made.  ¹⁴The Lord lifts up all who fall, and he supports all who are bowed down.  ¹⁵The eyes of all look eagerly to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.  ¹⁶You open your hand, and you satisfy the desire of every living thing.  ¹⁷The Lord is righteous in all his ways and merciful toward all that he has made.  ¹⁸The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  ¹⁹He grants the desire of those who fear him.  He hears their cry and saves them.  ²⁰The Lord watches over all who love him, but he will destroy all the wicked.  ²¹My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord.  Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. (EHV)

Though David lived a thousand years before Jesus entered this world as a babe in the manger, David lived his life, and was saved for eternal life, through his faith in that promised Savior and Redeemer.  It is because of his faith in the Promised One that God blessed David so richly.  It is also David’s faith in that Promised Redeemer through which the Lord rescued him from the condemnation his sins deserved. 

The same should be said about all of us.  We too have many condemnable sins and shortcomings that had to be removed before we could stand before God in peace.  Yet, we too are given forgiveness, peace, and eternal life through faith in the Savior who entered this world as a tiny babe in a manger, lived a peasant’s life in faithful holiness for us while teaching God’s Word and promises to a stubborn people, then being falsely accused Jesus bore all our sins to condemnation and death on a cross. 

In one of the more reassuring passages you might ever hear, David wrote, “The Lord is faithful to all his words and merciful toward all he has made.”  This is the truth that allowed David to go out in battle against giants and enemy forces far larger than his own.  As a boy this confidence kept David in the field when his father’s flocks were attacked by lion or bear.  Knowing that his heavenly Father has his best interests at heart, David could go against the enemy without debilitating fear.  Now, that isn’t to say he never trembled.  Any of us might get nervous in the middle of the fight, but remember David’s confident words as he approached Goliath, “You come against me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel, whom you have defied.  Today the Lord will hand you over to me.” (1 Samuel 17:45-46) 

To Goliath, that sounded like a ridiculous boast.  Even David’s brothers likely expected their little brother to be annihilated.  But, what did David have that Goliath would never know?  David had the Lord God at his side.  Before this battle, God had anointed David to be the next king of Israel.  Therefore, David wasn’t being reckless when he fought against Israel’s enemies.  Instead, he was taking up the position of trust God intended for him.  Likewise, God wants us to trust Him in everything.  No, that doesn’t mean God has chosen us to go into battle or cut off a giant’s head.  Rather, because Jesus has already won the victory that David’s victories foreshadowed, our Savior sends us out into the world on a different mission—not to make a kingdom by force, but rather to spread the message of peace and forgiveness that builds God’s kingdom of grace.

You see, God’s plan was always to reconcile the world to Himself in Jesus.  The very first promise given after Adam and Eve sinned was that the son of the woman would crush the devil and his rebellion, but at a cost.  The promise was repeated for us through the Children of Israel and their history.  The Lord showed Himself time and again as their Rescuer and Redeemer.  He was their guide and their hope for eternal life.  Israel’s history also shows us God’s faithfulness in judging evil.  Whoever refuses God’s mercy will suffer His wrath, but that is not for us to carry out.  Rather, when Jesus returns to judge the world, those things will be sorted out for eternity.

In the meantime, David reminds us that just as God continually demonstrated His loving concern for the Israelites before Jesus entered the world, so He now extends His love to all the people on earth.  Concerning Jesus’ mission to save sinners, God the Father declared, “It is too small a thing that you should just be my servant to raise up only the tribes of Jacob and to restore the ones I have preserved in Israel, so I will appoint you to be a light for the nations, so that my salvation will be known to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)  God faithfully delivered on His promise to send a Savior.  God faithfully delivered on His promise to rescue us from sin, death, and the devil.  In the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we receive sure and certain proof that by faith we too will receive everlasting life.

David also had the Lord’s ear.  So, what does this mean for our prayers?  It means that not only does God provide everything we need for body and life, but He promises that He hears our prayers and that Our faithful Lord answers your prayers.  James wrote, “The prayer of a righteous person is able to do much because it is effective.” (James 5:16)  The righteous person is one who has been declared righteous through the gift of faith in Christ Jesus.  His or her prayers are powerful and effective not because of what is in us, or what we do or say, but because the One to whom we pray both hears our prayers and has both the will and power to answer them.

David wrote, “The eyes of all look eagerly to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.  You open your hand, and you satisfy the desire of every living thing.  The Lord is righteous in all his ways and merciful toward all that he has made.”  Because He is good, faithful, and kind, God sustains the world and every creature in it.  Likewise for mankind, whether people believe in Him or not, God continues to provide much for their daily lives in the hope that they will turn to Him in faith.

On the other hand, God refuses to hear the prayers of those who deny Him.  Every day, and in every tragic event, a call to pray goes out.  Pray to your god, is often the plea.  Yet, idols don’t hear; neither do they see the troubles that surround us.  They have no hands to help or feet to come running to the aid of anyone, and the devil through whom all idols come about is only seeking our destruction.  Consequently, God declares to the unrepentant people, “I am the Lord; that is my name.  I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to idols.” (Isaiah 42:8)

But to those people who believe in the Triune God, David wrote, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and merciful toward all that he has made.  The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”  God’s justice demanded that sin be paid for with death.  Therefore, so that many who deserved eternal condemnation might be rescued from that everlasting gloom, God sent His Son to redeem and save us.  Jesus paid the debt of sin for the whole world, and those who are brought to believe in Him will be saved.  In fulfillment of David’s assurance here, Jesus declared to His people, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)  Then, after His resurrection from the grave, Jesus promised, “Surely I am with you always until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)  Indeed, Our faithful Lord answers your prayers.

In his praise, David continued to recount the goodness of our God singing, “He grants the desire of those who fear him.  He hears their cry and saves them.  The Lord watches over all who love him, but he will destroy all the wicked.”  These words continue a theme that runs strongly throughout the Scriptures, telling of God’s infinite mercy and kindness to those He calls to faith.  At the same time, those who reject the One who is our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier will suffer for their arrogant defiance.  God earnestly desires to provide all good things to the people He created.  However, once sin entered the world, many people refuse God’s love and mercy, and in their rejection of God, many have embraced Satan’s hatred for God’s people.  However, by rejecting the Savior God sent to redeem all people from the devil’s grip, the unrepentant will receive the due reward for their rebellion against the God who loved the world through His Son.

For you and me today, however, we can go about our days with the same confidence David demonstrates in this psalm.  We should have complete confidence in God’s will and ability to care for us in every need.  More than that, though, we are especially assured that Jesus lived, died, and rose again so that we might be delivered from eternal punishment and despair, for He has paid the price to set us free from sin.  On top of that, by sending His Spirit in Word and Sacrament, the Lord our God has brought faith into our hearts and lives, so that regardless of circumstances, whether richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, in persecution or time of peace, we will stand with King David declaring, “My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord.  Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.”  Triumphant unto life everlasting through faith in Jesus we remain, because Our faithful Lord answers your prayers.  Amen.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless in the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, be glory, majesty, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, now, and to all eternity.  Amen.